Maldives 4D3N: A DIY Trip, Malaysian Style!
Seriously, this place is a beach paradise! 🐬🌴🗾
I went during April '25. Best time to visit Maldives? Definitely December to April. Less rain and clear blue skies, okay?
1/ Visa Stuff
Good news, guys! Maldives doesn't need a visa beforehand. Just print out your hotel booking and return flight ticket. They'll check these two documents before you board the plane.
When you reach immigration in Maldives, just show them and get your passport stamped!
Note: The immigration officers are super friendly, always smiling! If you're travelling with family, they'll let you go through immigration together, no need to queue separately.
2/ Money Matters
They use the Maldivian Rufiyaa there. Change your Ringgit to USD first, then change the USD to Rufiyaa when you arrive.
You might be surprised by the exchange rate. The actual rate is often better for tourists compared to what you see online.
3/ Getting Around
No direct flights from Malaysia to Maldives, so you'll need to transit. I chose to transit in KUL.
The capital of Maldives is Malé. You can get around by car or motorbike there. When you get out of the airport, head straight to the harbor area. You'll see a long line of taxis waiting. Negotiate the price with the driver first.
For getting between islands, you'll need a boat. Book your tickets in advance!
Note: iCom Tours – they're big in Maldives for boat tickets, tours, restaurants, and hotels.
4/ My Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrived late, around 9pm, so I stayed overnight in Malé.
- Day 2: Took a boat to Maafushi. Full-day tour (booked through my hotel).
- Day 3: Full-day Resort tour.
- Day 4: Went back to Malé, flew to Sri Lanka.
5/ Food Adventures
I didn't really vibe with the food there. Most dishes were very salty, even the milk! Maafushi has a few restaurants serving Western and Thai food, which were better than the local dishes.
Seafood is the main thing there, so I didn't expect much from the food.
Bottom line: the beaches are stunning! 🏖️
